Ruby Sugaroo

Collected all over North America, notably on Cranberry Island off the coast of Maine near Acadia National Park. This song tells a classic American story of immigration and railroad work in the 1840s.

Listed as a hauling shanty in 'Ballads of Maine.'

As taught to me by the great Jeff Davis, I sing his version, so it is not exactly as found in "Ballads of Maine" but they are branches on the same tree.

Ruby Sugaroo at the North Atlantic Song Convention '26 Workshop

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Lyrics

Ruby Sugaroo, Sugar Sugaroo
Sugar in the cream jar, how do you do
Out on the railroad, folla folleray
Johnny comes picking on the banjo

1842, I didn't know what I should do
So I sailed across the ocean blue
To work all on the railroad

1843, I set out across the sea
Didn't expect to see poor me
Working on the railroad

1844, I landed on a foreign shore
Didn't expect to see me more
A working on the railroad

Railroad's done and we'll take a ride
Here we are all side by side
Here we are all side by side
A riding on the railroad

Sources

Learned from Jeff Davis, Woodstock, Connecticut
Found in 'Ballads of Maine' from Cranberry Island archives, listed as a hauling shanty.